Garment for use in the care of infants



April 22, 1958 J. J. TERRY GARMENT FOR USErIN THE CARE OF INFANTS FiledOct. 8, 1956 INVENIOR. Joy/v J rxzoy BY 1916/1 63, 11/14 775, EOGC'PTO/V& MA/E/V/V) United dates This invention relates broadly to garments foruse in the care of infants, and more specifically to a scarf to protectthe clothing when the child is held in a manner which will cause it tobelch.

The medical profession has discovered that infants are frequentlyinjured when the baby is burped by holding it face down on the shoulderof the attendant. This is particularly true in cases where the collarbone of the attendant is protuberant and the weight of the baby is borneon its stomach.

When the eructation is fluidic, the clothing of the mother, or otherattendant, is soiled and often requires washing or dry cleaning toremove the stain.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a cover stripor scarf having a resilient pad therein for engagement with the babysstomach, and straps attached thereto for locating and holding the scarfin place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a waterproof scarf toprotect the clothing of the wearer attending the baby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pocket in one end of theshawl for the reception of a sponge or other absorbent material toretain the eructation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a second pocket in theopposed end of the scarf to retain a diaper, safety pins and likeaccouterments for the baby.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing,and the manner in which all the various objects are realized, willappear in the following description, which considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved garment protecting scarf, shown inan unfolded or open position;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective, illustrating the scarf positioned uponthe shoulder of a babys attendant; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the central portion of the scarf, thesection being taken on a plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the scarf comprises an oblong strip ofpliable plastic sheeting having broad arcuate recesses 10 in the opposedsides thereof to provide a clearance for the neck of the wearer andforms a narrow central shoulder band 11. The central band of the scarfis formed with an open pocket 12 for the retention of a sponge orsimilar resilient pad 13. The pad is proportioned to fully overlie theboney structure of the wearers shoulder, such as the collar bone orshoulder blade. The corners of the strip are preferably rounded and eachend thereof is provided with an overlapped strip forming a patch pocket.The rear pocket 14 contains a sponge 15 or other absorbent material tocatch and retain liquid frequently expelled by the baby when it belches.The forward pocket 16 is provided to receive a diaper and other portablenecessities for the baby. The peripheral edge of the strip is bound withtape,

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and tie cords 17 of a length to encompass the body are sewed to rearpanels of the scarf to accommodate the securement thereof on the wearer.An elastic strap 18 unites the forward edges of the panels of the scarfand is provided to locate the shoulder pad 13 in proper position uponthe wearer and retain the scarf in place when the scarf is hastily drawnover the wearers shoulder.

When it is necessary to burp the baby, the scarf is adjusted in place,by the attendant inserting his or her arm through the opening betweenthe strap 1.8 and the shoulder band 11 adjusting the pad 13 in position,then tying the straps 17. The baby is then lifted to the shoulder of thewearer, placed with his stomach on the pad 13 and then tapped gentlyuntil relieved.

The scarf may be made in various sizes and formed of plastic sheeting inattractive colors. In the event a fluidic discharge accompanies thebelching operation, the pocket 14 and sponge 15 therein will catch andabsorb the eructation, and such discharge may be readily washed from thesponge and scarf after treatment of the baby.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailedcharacter, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, itis to be understood that the specifio terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts andmodifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective garment to be worn when holding an infant over thewearers shoulder to induce eructation comprising a strip of waterrepellent material, front and rear panels therein, a central portion ofa width less than that of said front and rear panels constituting ashoulder panel, a sponge rubber pad in said shoulder panel for theinfants stomach, a strap secured to the edges of one side of said frontand rear panels, tie cords secured to the opposed side edges of theother side of said front and rear panels, patch pockets on the outerfaces of the lower ends Of said front and rear panels, and a rubbersponge in the patch pocket in the rear panel for the reception offluidic regurgitation of the infant.

2. A protective garment to be worn when holding an infant over thewearers shoulder to induce eructation comprising a strip of a waterrepellent material constituting front and rear panels, a homogeneouscentral portion of a width less than that of the front and rear panelsconstituting a shoulder panel, a soft thick resilient pad in saidshoulder panel protruding upwardly and overlying the boney structure ofthe wearer to protect the infants stomach, a strap secured to adjacentedges of one side of said front and rear panels, tie cords secured tothe opposed side edges of the other side of said panel, patch pockets inthe ends of said front and rear panels, and a removable absorbent pad insaid patch pocket in the rear panel to receive regurgitation of theinfant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,000,297 Sagerstrom Aug. 8, 1911 1,414,136 Kleiminger Apr. 25, 19222,417,888 Schuster Mar. 25, 1947 2,482,182 Henninger Sept. 20, 19492,499,689 Sossamon Mar. 7, 1950 2,540,952 Kennedy Feb. 6, 1951 2,563,420Roe Aug. 7, 1951 2,654,887 Hookstratten Oct. 13, 1953 2,722,685 LucasNov. 8, 1955

